Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-10-06
q RERE HYP0CBGEDRIAC.
Strange Story of the Conneot1cuIt Mon
Who Had Small Pox Internally.
InGiaaapOlis journal

Strange story of the Coaneot1cuIt Mon
Who Had Small Pox Internally.
indianapolis Journal
Your editorial in September II (Sln-
days paper or "The insanity Laws
brings 10 my mind noted case which,
transpiIing in Hartford, Conn, IN the
years fTom 1917 to I849, was well veri-
tied and fully reported in the papers OF
tina. time. | was then 3 young man living
| ia tlal vicinity, and well remember the
discussions, pro and con, attendant upon
the case. 1t occurred IN the practice of
Dr.. Todd, the first physician to the in
sane asylum in Hartford, and this report
is taken verbatim from The Hartford
Chr0iCie OF July Is, 1919. - there were
then Us now friends Of the sufferer resid-'
ing III Hartford, the name Of the person
Is not usGd, but the statements Can be
verified. The subject CT it WIS a robust,
asrd working man, by trade stone
mason. lie had, end SO believed, bsen
exposed to the cOntsgion of smsHp0x,
and under the impression that spare
diet would essentially mitigate the viru-
lence of the disease, from q previous fGli
diet, in which he formerly INDUCED,
aud in which animal food formed
& large share, be restricted himself
to q diet entirely vegetable, and this
TOO in SO limited G quantity as was
hardly sufficient 10 sustain life. This
charge in his mode of living com
| bined with the depressing influence
| Of fear from anticipation Of
| loatheome and fatal disease, soon re-
duced his athletic frame and involved
him in all the horrors Of hypochoudria.
The time soon arrived when, according
to his calculations the smallpox ought to
make its appearance, but not poCk or 8
pimple could he fad upon himself. A
new Cause of apprehension now took en-
tire possession of his mind, viz: thet he
had the disease internally, and that il
was preYing upon and destroying his sys-
| tenn. Under this impression, he con-
suited physician, who, after listening to
history of the case and making care
full examination, assured him that his APP
| preheNsi0ns were entirely groundless, and
existed only in his imaginstiOn.
This conclusion was far from being sat
isfactory to the hYpochondriac. He was
not thus easily to be reasoned out of his
senses. This physician was at once dis
missed as one wanting in skill to dis
cover and understand the Iature Of his
complaint. A second and q third physi-
| clan were successfully called, they con-
curing in the decision of the first ore.
But the patient, as is common in such
cases, would sooner believe the whole
medical lat fraternity afault than
| himself. The unfortunate sub
IjeCt OF mental hallucinati,
rejected the medical advice, confined him
self to his room, and resigned himself TO
his fate. Il the meantime his once ro-
bust form bad become ettenusted almost
| to skin and bones.
His friends now became thoroughly
alarmed as to his condition. Dr.. Todd
YVES then quite young, and resided at
Farmingtcn. His reputation had spread
! into ali the neighbor.ng towns, and es-
| pecislIy SO MS peculiar talent for the
management of mental diseases had en-
irently qualified him to take charge Of
the insaue, and his talent had in quite
numerous instances been manifested.
a brother of the patient called on Dr.
Todd and stated his case, and assured
the doctor that the PATENTS confidence
in the medical faculty was gone, and that
it was without the patients kuowl-
edge that he (the DOCTOR WAS
consulted. a plan Wss soon arranged
by which DR.. Todd should happen
to pass the house OF the patient and be
called in as if by accident. The next day
Dr.. Todd was seen driving al rapid rate
through the street where the patient lived.
He was hailed BY the messenger, snd in 8
tone of voice overheard by the sick person
requested to call and see his brother, who
had for sometime suffered from ill-health.
The doctor aligned, and WIGS soon intro
duced to the patient, but W9s received
without any recognition or act OF clvility,
not even raising his eyes to look ct him ;
nor could he, by any kind Of attention or
inquiries, elicit g word from his sullen
end despsiring patient.
| With tact peculiar to himself, the
doctor commenced very minute and
careful examination of the patient-fr5t
looking carefully into his eyes, his ears
and his nose; then rising hastily from his
seat he commenced walking tie room ss
if in the utmost establishment, and could
hardly credit his senses, at the same time
calculating in an undertone:
ais it possible? Who could ever have
thought it? eau it be-"
: Then, resuming his place by the side OF
the patient, he went through al examina-
ton still more minute. Again leaving his
seat he continued his colloquy:
at is fact! There can be no mistake,
and yet the like is not to be fousd in the
records of medicine"
By this time the patients attention was
aroused, and, breaking through his taci-
turnity, ne exclaimed:
"What. what! VIVA. is it, DR.. Todd?"
"Why sir, something very singular in
your case. but IS 1 an not under sny OBJ
legation to you for the discovery, I will
keep it to myself. More than that, Sir,
it is as much IS q physicians reputation
is worth even to advance such an opin-
ion"
"Doctor," said the patient, 81 must
knowlt, will do anything in my power
you ask of me, if you will only tell me-"
swell, sir" replied the doctor, 'it
tell you, it must ever be profound secret
between ourselves?"
To this the patient readily asserted.
"Then, sir" continued the doctor
"you must know that you have the small
poX internally!"
In en- instant. with all the strength he
cound command, the patient sprsng from
his chair, and SEEING the doctor by the